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Tuesday, December 17, 2024

How Long Does It REALLY Take To Learn a Language?


The easiest languages for English speakers include Esperanto, Swedish, and Dutch, Italian, French.
Other languages with the same alphabet are also easier. 
Easy in the sense of fewer rules, but also the number of hours required to study. The number of hours is not a guesstimate. The American dipolmats and miltary have to train staff on language courses for postings to foreign countries. Interpreters are trained in schools designed for this purpose. A very interesting video on You Tube shows what is required and done. 

The military interpreters who volunteer and have an aprtitue and the dedication commit to several hours a day for most days of the week as well as evening homework. Far longer than I would ever commit.

They are expected to be fluent in a year or maximum a year and a half.
They are fluent before they set foot in the country.
However, amateur polyglots often go to a coutnry speaking not a word and learn by immersion as well as intensive study.
O the oriental languages, Indonesian and Malay are easiest.
Of the African languages, Swahili looks easiest. 

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